Letters to the editor for Sunday, Nov. 11

Editorial writers are entitled to their opinions. However with professional writers one expects informed opinions.

In a recent diatribe opposing drilling for oil, your writer indicates that gas prices are fixed by the oil companies and not supply and demand, so more drilling could not possibly affect gas prices. One only needs to follow the market price for crude oil and gasoline on CNBC to understand that both are driven by market conditions. Unfortunately humans are in the process and sometimes perceived supply rather than actual enters the equation. Example: Prices go up when fears of Middle East violence escalate.

Oil companies are often accused of preying on the public with exorbitant profits and paying no taxes. Analysis of ExxonMobil and Shell annual reports for the last five years demonstrate the exact opposite. Exxon’s profit margin was 8.4 percent, Shell’s was 6.2. By way of contrast, profit margins for household item suppliers Proctor and Gamble and Colgate were 15.1 and 13.8 percent, respectively. So, it is a stretch to consider big oil predatory.

Oil companies pay large taxes. Exxon was taxed at 31 percent, and if you include the taxes paid on their dividends the total is 34 percent. Shell paid 44 percent.

Our pain at the pump is largely caused by government actions by an energy secretary whose stated objective is to “Get prices as high here as in Europe.” Don Shiffler

Kinston

Obama win belonged on front page

In response to Jon Dawson’s Nov. 8 Free Press column, in which he described the citizen asking why the newspaper put President Obama’s picture on the front page the day before, I agree with Mr. Dawson.

The newspaper reports the news, and that was the news, plain and simple. The Free Press is balanced and fair, taking an objective and neutral approach to keeping our greater community informed. Whereas one might switch between CNN and Fox News to weigh liberal and conservative viewpoints, we are blessed with a local newspaper which searches out all the news and delivers it to readers.

Opinion columns follow their name, expressing opinions. But good news reporting does the same, follows its name, reporting whatever happens to be the news. Instead of criticizing the messenger,resist a myopic view, and take the initiative to come up with ideas to improve our entire community, state, nation, and world.

Everyone’s blood is the same color, and I doubt anyone needing a blood transfusion to live would restrict the party of the donor. Take the tug-of-war rope by the same end, and hoist everybody up to quality living. I shed a tear when I read how many billions had been spent on advertising for the presidential election, when so much good could have come from pooling those resources to improve America as united states.

Minister Evelyn Dove Coleman

PathChoice Ministry

Kinston

U.S. has election problems, too

Can someone please explain to me how you think it is right to give “blue cards, yellow cards or whatever color cards” they may be to people to tell them how to vote? Can people not see they are being treated like dummies not able to think for themselves? I saw these cards and heard about meetings being held to tell you who to vote for.

Also can you tell me how it is right to push the mentally challenged into the polls by their case workers and the case worker does the voting for them? If they have to be cared for around the clock and can do nothing for themselves, not even talk so you can understand them, how can they tell you how they want to vote?

I have always voted; however, seeing and hearing how things are done by other people really makes me sick to my stomach. I have also heard some people have voted four times. I think everyone needs to show a picture ID to vote. Please don’t say “hardship for the poor.” We know the government will help them out with a “free” ID.

With all these things going on, I don’t see where we are any better than other countries with their voting issues. The only way for this great nation to get back on track with all their issues from abortion to same-sex marriages to so many other issues is to obey 2 Chronicles 7-14. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land.” This is the only hope I see for America.

Sandra C. Thigpen

Deep Run

Veterans Challenge open to all veterans

I would very much appreciate it if you would clarify something that many people ask. The Veterans Challenge office, community meetings, and services we provide, are for: active military, reservists, and veterans — anyone, that is, or has ever served in America’s armed services.

Veterans Challenge monthly community meetings are the second Monday of each month, at 7 p.m. All community meetings include food, entertainment, prize drawings, acknowledgements, expert speakers and fun for all. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.

Tomorrow night’s meeting is a Veteran’s Day Covered Dish Celebration event. Bring a prepared covered dish, a bag of chips, or a 2-liter beverage and come join us at the Vernon Park Mall in the former Expressions/Brody’s building (we are hoping to turn into a wonderful veteran’s pavilion!)! Come one and all! The more the merrier! Happy Veteran’s Day!

Debby Guthrie, director

Veterans Challenge Inc

Kinston

First order of business: Bring our boys home

Bring our boy’s home to the U.S.A. That is the first thing Obama should do. So many have been killed for nothing.

As a widow of World War II, I know that if President Truman had not used the atomic bomb, my husband, being in the South Pacific area, would have never returned. So many are fighting for us to be free and some here are fighting in the street.

Wake up Americans, you haven’t seen anything yet. And I think Congressman Walter B. Jones is one of the best in Congress.

Ida Jackson

Kinston

Kinston fighting drug war since 1970s

I had the distinct privilege to serve as a Kinston police officer in the 1970’s. I wish to honor and remember the two most famous drug detectives, Capt. Aaron Brooks and Sgt. David Quinn.

The most famous arrest made in the 1970s occurred at the Kinston airport. Capt. Brooks contacted Officer Larry Green, and myself and Green, Quinn, Brooks and myself along with two SBI agents met secretly to discuss a package that had been opened by the Atlanta Police Department at the Atlanta Jet Port. Atlanta authorities received a tip that drugs were being sent from Arizona to Kinston, N.C., by air. Atlanta authorities opened the package labeled as motorcycle parts and called Capt. Brooks in Kinston with a tip that drugs were coming to Kinston via the Regional Jetport.

We went to the Kinston airport on the day the package was to arrive in Kinston and Officer Green and I waited undercover in an unmarked car. Sgt. Quinn and an SBI agent worked the desk in the airport disguised as airline employees. The people who came to pick up the package of drugs arrived, picked up the package from the undercover officers at the desk and put the drugs in their vehicle’s trunk, while their bodyguards waited outside. When the two vehicles that came to pick up the drugs left the parking lot of the jetport, we surrounded them and put up a road block and SBI agents seized 20 pounds of marijuana.

The person possessing the package was arrested while I held the body guards off with a 12-gauge pump shotgun loaded with buckshot. So this was the beginning of major drug busts in Kinston and, as a result, a major drug trafficking ring in Arizona was ended. This drug bust was the most famous of all to that date.

Thank God for the SBI and the drug officers of the 1970s with the Kinston Police Department.